Farrell's restaurants have flat-screen TVs displaying old photos of family celebrations dating to the 1960s.

The Farrell's staff chooses from an eclectic assortment of 20 to 25 songs to serenade a birthday boy or girl."Baseball Birthday," "Rock 'n' Roll Birthday," "Military Birthday" and "Hip Hop Birthday," are some the most popular.

Special balloon artists and old-fashioned candy stores are major attractions for children.

Claim to Fame: Founder Bob Farrell "sought to create an old-school 1940s twist to the traditional old ice cream shop," said Kristy Dunkel, office manager of Farrell's in Mission Viejo. After a long hiatus, Farrell's returned to Orange County in 2009.

"At Farrell's you don't need an excuse to celebrate. It's not the type of restaurant where you have to worry about keeping your kids quiet. The atmosphere is really lively and festive. You might even call it the Disneyland of restaurants," said Dunkel.

Pizzas, salads, sandwiches, burgers and more fill the menu, but it's the dozens of ice cream desserts and treats that often bring people in. The food is served with a side of fun and nostalgia – the entertaining staff is decked out in pin-striped vests, old-fashioned ties and traditional skimmers, and Farrell's has everything from drums to sirens to train whistles to entertain its customers.

Among the desserts are the famous Belly Busters, such as Farrell's Zoo, which includes four flavors of ice cream, three sherbet flavors, four toppings, whipped cream, cherries and bananas; and The Pig's Trough, a double banana split served in a trough.

The staff rewards guests with ribbons and presentations if belly buster desserts are consumed. The staff's "goal is to become a part of the memory of the experience. Servers know that each occasion is very special, and they try their best to make it even more special."

Did you know? The Farrell's staff has a special song for younger guests who have successfully completed potty training.

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